Few gave a penny for Daniel Gafford, who in his first season in the NBA was in the middle of a three-way operation between the Washington Wizards, the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls, his team of origin, during the close of the league’s transfer market last month of March.
The 22-year-old center, Scott Brooks’ backup, has not enjoyed many minutes neither with Chicago nor with Washington, but last night he got away with a brilliant defensive festival that led him to accumulate 5 blocks
s in the first half of the match.
His rejection under the hoops to the rival attackers had its high point with a brutal pop on Doug McDermott that made up the best plays from last night’s game that qualified the Wizards for the playoffs with eighth place.
In addition to his brilliant defense, Gafford gave himself a very complete game with 15 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and those 5 blocks in just 22 minutes game (6-8 TC).
“Today we left with the mentality that we were not going to go home”, commented the young pivot after the meeting. “This transfer is the best thing that could have happened to me”explained the player as he reflected on his relationship with Washington’s squad and coaches.